Red Pepper and Feta Pie with Buttery Filo

This recipe comes from Germanos Christianopoulos, the owner of the Syntrofia tavern in Megali Prespa, just a few meters above the small harbor in the village of Psarades.


Chef: Germanos Christianopoulos

Preparation & Cooking time: 2 hours

Serves: One 28 cm (11-inch) pie

Instructions

Prepare the dough:

  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine the flour, oil, vinegar and salt. Mix well.
  • Gradually add the water while kneading by hand or with a dough hook, until the dough becomes smooth, slightly elastic, and medium-firm. If needed, adjust with a bit more flour or water.
  • Cover and let rest for 20 minutes while you prepare the filling.

Make the filling:

  • In a pot, boil the chopped peppers in about 1 liter of water over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until soft. Drain and discard the water.
  • In the same pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the peppers over medium heat until they begin to brown slightly.
  • Remove from heat, add the feta, eggs, salt, and pepper, and mix well. Let the filling cool completely.
Assemble the pie:
  • Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll them into small balls.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out 4 dough balls into round sheets, each about 15-20 cm in diameter.
  • Brush each sheet with melted butter and stack them. Roll the stacked layers out again into a single large sheet, slightly larger than your baking pan.
  • Butter a 28 cm round baking pan and place the first filo layer inside, covering the bottom and sides, with some overhang. Spread half of the filling evenly over it.
  • Repeat the layering process with another 4 dough balls to create a second filo sheet, this time matching the size of the pan. Lay it over the filling and spread the remaining filling on top.
  • Roll out the final 4 dough balls to form the top layer and place it over the filling.
  • Fold the overhanging bottom filo inward to create a thin decorative border around the pie.
  • Brush the surface with melted butter and score into portions.
Bake the pie:
  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, until golden brown.
  • Let cool slightly before serving warm.

 

This article was previously published in Greek at gastronomos.gr.

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 500 gr yellow wheat flour (for pies and bread)
  • 150 ml high-quality sunflower oil (or light olive oil)
  • 1 tbsp vinegar
  • pinch of salt
  • 300 ml lukewarm water
  • 200 g melted cow’s butter, for brushing

For the Filling:

  • 1 kg Florina red peppers, finely chopped
  • 60 ml olive oil
  • 200 gr feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper



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